Laneway Festival Auckland: The 2014 line-up is here

"It
may be known as the music festival for the cool kids, but at
this year's Laneway there was something for everyone." - NZ
Herald

"The Laneway Festival is a great concept, and
delivers a freshness and different vibe, in terms of music,
patrons and overall atmosphere, than other music festivals
I’ve been to. It’s a festival for the here and now." -
Public Address

Fresh from delivering a wildly
successful debut event in Detroit, the St Jerome’s Laneway
Festival is excited to present the 2014 Auckland line-up,
arguably the most eclectic and compelling to date.

Over its eleven year history, the now eight-city
boutique event has carved out a niche in the hectic festival
market, gaining both international acclaim and respect as
well as an unrivalled rep for programming the new talent
you’ll be falling for over the summer.

It’s been
four years since the birth of Auckland Laneway. Amongst the
towering concrete cylinders of Silo Park, grassy knolls and
the blue, blue sea, the festival will again deliver an
exhilarating, urban music experience this summer.

Building upon last year’s site, the 2014 event will
have plenty of shade and covered areas to recline under at
Silo Park. We’re going to expand the bar areas, providing
larger spaces for you to enjoy a beverage and there’ll a
brand new bar next to the harbour. With the best local food
vendors onsite, you’ll be sorted for tasty snacks
throughout the day.

On Monday 27th January (Auckland
Anniversary Day), Auckland’s favourite boutique festival
will throw down an absolutely huge ensemble of acts from
your local neighbourhood to around the world. Here
goes:

Fans of intelligent, crystalline
pop music have fallen hard for CHVRCHES, the Glaswegian trio
led by charismatic frontwoman Lauren Mayberry and flanked by
Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. Their brilliant debut The
Bones of What You Believe dropped on Friday and they’re
evidently incapable of producing anything other than
whip¬smart, hook¬laden synth pop (see: singles Recover,
Gun, The Mother We Share). With sell out headline tours in
Australia, UK and US, a triumphant, award--winning
appearance at SXSW and a string of stadium dates with
Depeche Mode, this is CHVRCHES’ moment.

DANNY
BROWN

Detroit native DANNY BROWN brings something new and
distinctively original to the hip hop table. In 2011 the
Motor City MC teamed up with Fool's Gold Records and
released XXX, a tour¬de¬force concept record (and Spin’s
‘Rap Album Of The Year’) about hedonism, growing up and
Detroit, which took listeners on a profane and psychedelic
journey through his own uncensored ID. The
highly-anticipated follow up LP Old is out next week and
Australian audiences should prepare themselves for both
hilarious and heartbreaking rap music about moving up and
hurtling down that pushes comfort barriers in the best
possible way.

DAUGHTER

Articulating your
love life better than you ever could, London trio DAUGHTER
captivate audiences with their introspective lyrics and
Explosions In the Sky¬-like holds that transport you
between the intimacy of a living room performance and the
reach of a stadium. In the few short years since they came
together, Elena, Igor and Remi have delivered two acclaimed
EPs, standout performances at the likes of Glastonbury,
Primavera and Fuji Rock and If You Leave, a hypnotic album
debut that embodies the band's maturity and depth. Don’t
miss their spine¬chilling performance.

DOPRAH

Hailing from Christchurch and Auckland, DOPRAH
are exciting local talent on the rise. Otherwise known as
Steven Marr and Indira Force, they’ve garnered significant
attention over their first self-released single Whatever You
Want, which shot to the number one spot on the New Zealand
Alternative Top 40 chart this May. Prepare to immerse
yourself in many sonic, trip-hop delights from DOPRAH this
Laneway.

EARL SWEATSHIRT

EARL SWEATSHIRT,
youngest member of the Odd Future collective and widely
regarded as the notorious group's most talented rapper, is
coming. His 2010 debut mixtape Earl, released when he was
just 16, raised heartbeats and expectations and marked the
arrival of a genuine hip hop star. After a well-publicised
stint in a Samoan therapeutic retreat school (he was sent
there by his mum), Earl returned to the scene with this
year's remarkable LP Doris. (Check out Chum, one of the
standout cuts (here) Marked by a brutal honesty and lyrical
dexterity, the release was praised for its sophisticated,
varied and yet unexpected palette. Super exciting and
entirely unpredictable, these will be unmissable
performances.

FRIGHTENED RABBIT

Scottish
four¬-piece FRIGHTENED RABBIT are one of Laneway’s all
time favourite live acts. Their moody, literate,
confessional tunes put them in the company of touring
buddies The National and they’ve acquired a not
insignificant fanbase after eight years of solid touring.
Their latest record, Pedestrian Verse was widely acclaimed
and debuted in the UK Top 10, the recurring themes of
heartbreak and self¬deprecation finding the wider audience
that we’ve long known they deserve.

GHOST
WAVE

Four-piece rock band, GHOST WAVE have had an awesome
couple of years; opening for Black Angels, Times New
Viking, and Explosions In The Sky, recording an EP and
playing at CMJ and SXSW festivals. Their album Ages was
internationally released mid 2013, with Nylon describing
their music as "perfect garage rock” and Ad Hoc as
“Slightly off-kilter in the best and most New Zealand-ish
way.”

HAIM

In the short time since the
release of their first single ‘Forever’ in 2012, HAIM
have captivated crowds worldwide with their slow--burning
pop melodies and progressive jam¬outs, one hair flick at a
time. Now, on the eve of the release of their much
¬anticipated debut Days Are Gone, they look set for proper
stardom. The three sisters have an onstage chemistry that
only those who grew up under one roof can conjure. See them
up close and personal before they come untouchable.

JAGWAR MA

JAGWAR MA have delivered on the not
inconsiderable hype that surrounded the release of their
accomplished debut Howlin. From a rare and prestigious 5
star review in London’s The Times to a Best New Music
stamp from P4K to widespread acclaim, 5 AIR nominations and
a triple j Feature Album back home, praise for their
tripped-¬out beats and undeniable hooks has come from all
quarters. Jagwar Ma are easily one of Australia’s most
exciting live prospects at the moment. Just ask the masses
at Glastonbury, T In The Park or at any one of their
sold-¬out club shows here and abroad.

JAMES
BLAKE

JAMES BLAKE is a modern curator of textural,
electronic masterpieces. Musically broad and emotionally
deep, 24-year old Blake hangs more international acclaim on
his belt than most, having picked up Mercury, BRIT, Ivor
Novello and Mercury Prize nominations for his latest album,
Overgrown. The Londoner has also collaborated with the likes
of Jay-Z, Kanye West, Bon Iver, Björk, Drake, Brian Eno,
and The RZA. Returning to the shores of Auckland for the
second time, Laneway has heard whispers to expect an extra
special festival-set from him this summer.

JAMIE XX

JAMIE XX, member of Laneway friends/stars of
the century The xx, and seriously credible producer and
remix artist is performing a full set of brand new
productions at Laneway for the very first time in Australia.
Since 2011’s ‘We’re New Here’, a widely praised
remix redux of Gil Scott¬Heron’s last album, Jamie has
been one of the most in¬demand producers in the world,
contributing to mega¬hits by the likes of Drake and Alicia
Keys as well as reworkings for Radiohead. He’s got a solo
mixtape, featuring Laneway touring buddy Four Tet and The
xx, coming at you this summer.

KURT VILE

KURT
VILE’s breakout album Smoke Ring for My Halo has been a
permanent fixture on the Laneway record player for a couple
of years now, its jangly guitars and gorgeous reverb equally
appropriate for a summer’s morning or wintery afternoon.
The Philadelphia native has been playing in bands since he
was 14, co-founding the excellent War on Drugs before
concentrating on his solo career. Fifth album Wakin On A
Pretty Daze is a 69¬ minute opus, whose introspective
lyrics and rambling melodies sound
already¬-classic.

LORDE

LORDE, the
preternaturally gifted teenager is the breakout star of
2013, possessed of an incredible voice, gift for incisive
lyrics and a natural poise. Her Love Club EP took on a life
of its own after she posted it online, and went on to break
the record for the most songs in the NZ Top 20 (four), a
record previously held by ABBA. It is universally praised by
everyone from Grimes to Lena Dunham. She has singles
galore: first track ‘Royals’ hit #3 on the US Billboard
Charts. ‘Tennis Court’ and fresh new track ‘Team’
are destined for similar success. Pure Heroine, her
incredible debut is out this Friday. The Laneway Festival
show will be her only performance this summer.

MOUNT KIMBIE

London duo MOUNT KIMBIE formed in 2008 and
turned heads with their distinctive genre--defining debut
Crooks & Lovers in 2010, as well as on point remixes for
Foals and The xx. Fast forward a few years and their fan
base has snowballed big time. They returned this year with
Cold Spring Fault Less Youth, an album including notable
collaborations with King Krule, that even they themselves
admit as being bigger and better than their last. Prep up
with this recent clip of Laneway mate James Blake and the
boys playing together earlier this year. Fingers crossed for
another special collab performance at Laneway.

PARQUET COURTS

We first caught the excellent PARQUET
COURTS when they played the Laneway SXSW Party in Austin
earlier this year and were totally convinced. The New
York-based band dish up ragged, Americana-inspired punk that
makes ferocious digs at the Facebook generation. Primary
wordsmiths A. Savage and Austin Brown combine for a dynamic
lyrical experience, one part an erudite overflow of ideas,
the other an exercise in laid-back observation. Citing
much-loved Australian band Eddy Current Suppression Ring as
an influence on their first album proper Light Up Gold,
PARQUET COURTS are as exhilarating on record as off.

PCP EAGLES

Local act PCP EAGLES love to party. Emerging
from a bunch of punk bands in late 2012, they’ve kept
themselves busy supported international acts Jello Biafra,
The Bouncing Souls and Lagwagon, playing at Camp A Low Hum,
b Street 2013 and recording at Neil Finns Roundhouse
Recording Studio. They also went on a tour called, “I Hate
The Mall” a couple of months back in NZ and Australia.
Make sure you check these guys out.

RACKETS

Local Auckland band RACKETS began with a shared
love of The Pixies, Nirvana and Hawaiian shirts (shirts
sometimes on, but mostly off). They have opened for the
Black Lips, are banned from the Interislander ferry and have
a general distaste for working in supermarkets. More
recently, one of the Racketeers received considerable press
after stealing a so-called famous towel. They’ll be noisy
and you’ll dig it.

RUN THE JEWELS(EL-P &
KILLER MIKE)

The Laneway Festival has been obsessed by the
powerhouse rap duo of EL-¬P and Killer Mike for quite some
time. Together they are RUN THE JEWELS. Both artists put out
what some have called "the best hip hop albums to come out
in a long time", and the duo’s collaborative history has
been fruitful, with EL-P producing Killer Mike’s 2012
R.A.P Music and Killer Mike guesting up on EL-P’s Cancer
for Cure. Run The Jewels released their self¬titled LP
through Fools Gold last June; go get it now.

SAVAGES

Everyone’s hyped on SAVAGES, the London
all¬girl post¬punk four¬piece whose awaited long-player
Silence Yourself (Matador Records) has lived up to the
expectation set by their feverish early shows. It’s
essential listening: pulsing bass lines, howling vocals and
penetrating lyrics, all performed with a frenetic energy and
great sense of urgency. Their SXSW appearance made a serious
impact, with admiration coming from the likes of NPR, The
Atlantic and the L.A Times. Silence Yourself picked up a
prestigious Mercury Prize nomination and their
headline¬creating live show will be a highlight.

THE JEZABELS

We are super excited to welcome THE
JEZABELS back after a well¬deserved hiatus. These guys are
hard¬workers and quiet achievers, racking up gold sales,
ARIA Awards and sold out Hordern¬sized theatres. The Sydney
four¬piece played over 200 shows internationally last year,
selling out headline shows across the US, Canada, UK and
Europe and playing some of the best festivals around
(Lollapalooza, Pukkelpop, T in the Park and more). No big
deal. The Jezabels will be launching their second album at
Laneway and closing the show with songs that will no doubt
be as majestic and compelling as their last.

UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA

Born from basements and
bedrooms in Portland, UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA is the
brainchild of multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Ruban
Neilson of ex-¬Mint Chicks fame. This year, the
intriguingly expressive, psychedelic band released their
sophomore album, LP II, and hopscotched their way through a
worldwide tour (swinging by the The Jimmy Fallon show to
make an appearance). Laneway are very happy to have the NZ
ex¬pat and his band at Laneway, and we love this latest vid
of theirs.

VANCE JOY

VANCE JOY’S
rise has been as swift as it has been organic.
Melbourne¬-based singer and songwriter aka James Keogh,
makes seriously dreamy tunes. Breakout debut single
‘Riptide’ (now double¬platinum) aims straight for the
heart while avoiding cliches and accompanying EP God Loves
You When You’re Dancing has been bothering the upper
echelons of the iTunes Chart since its release. Check out
the killer video for Riptide as a statement of this young
artist’s vision.

WATERCOLOURS

WATERCOLOURS is the moniker of Chelsea
Jade Metcalf, a solo artist that creates soundscapes of the
best variety. Spending time in New Zealand and New York,
Metcalf is exciting talent to watch. Having won the VNZMA
Critics Choice Award in 2012 and performed formed alongside
international heavyweights such as Cat Power, Dirty
Projectors, Bloc Party and Broken Social Scene. Kapeesh.

XXYYXX

He is from Orlando, Florida and was born
not so long ago in 1995. XXYYXX (Marcel Everrett to his
mum), poetically describes his music as "doing drugs on a
freeway...underwater." He was here recently for a couple of
sold¬out club shows and we’re ecstatic to have this
electronic beatmaker bring back his unique mix of abstract
hip-hop and minimalist improvisational jazz. Pay attention
to this.

YOUTH LAGOON

Here’s an artist
that’ll make you rethink your whole life with one song.
Whether he means to or not, 23 year old Trevor Powers a.k.a.
YOUTH LAGOON churns out music that’s sometimes awkward,
sometimes challenging, distinctively honest and
overwhelmingly good. His stunning sophomore album Wondrous
Bughouse (made with go-to indie producer, Ben Allen of
Animal Collective and Deerhunter fame), picked up an
impressive 8.7 from Pitchfork upon its release back in
March: expect something magical.

TICKETS ON SALE

Laneway Festival fans with Visa
Credit, Debit or Prepaid cards can get tickets first through
Visa Entertainment. Visa Entertainment pre-sale starts 12
noon Monday 30 September through to 12 noon Tuesday 1
October (local time) or until tickets sell out at
www.visaentertainment.co.nzVisa Pre-Sale: Monday 30th
September 12pm NZTTickets On Sale: Thursday 3rd October
9am NZTTickets on sale from www.lanewayfestival.co.nz
and Ticketek www.ticketek.co.nz

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